Apparatus for bundling, transporting, and feeding sheets

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for bundling, transporting, and feeding sheets of paper which are preferably in a folded or signature form to be assembled and form a magazine, book, or the like. The sheets are handled by a delivery device, such as a folding machine, and are placed into discrete stacks which are subjected to a compressing device. The stack is formed at an inclined angle and a clamp is applied to the compressed stack. The clamp is shown to have rollers which permit the clamped stack to be wheeled to a transport device such as a cart which is shown. The cart with a plurality of the clamped stacks is then moved to a feeding device which receives the clamped stack in an inclined attitude, and the clamp is removed from the sheets and the sheets are then singly fed into the feeding device which causes the sheets to be collated into an assembled magazine or book. The clamp is shown to be of two extendable and contractable pieces which have a self-locking device for holding the clamp in the contracted position when it is clamping the sheets, and the locking device is releasable when the stack is released in the feeding device.

United States Patent 1 Stobb June 19, 1973 APPARATUS FOR BUNDLING,

TRANSPORTING, AND FEEDING SHEETS [76] Inventor: Anton R. Stobb, RD. 1,Pittstown,

[22] Filed: July 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 159,329

[52] U.S. Cl 214/6 H, 214/8.5 A, 214/6 C,

271/88 [51] Int. Cl. 865g 57/03, 865g 59/08 [58] Field of Search...214/6 C, 6 R, 6 H,

214/6 P, 6 DK, 6 A, 8.5 R, 8.5 A, 652, 654' [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,705,084 3/1955 Willfond 214/654 2,684,165 7/1954 Hill214/654 2,933,314 4/1960 Stobb 271/88 3,416,679 12/1968 Stobb 214/8.5 A1,801,997 4/1931 Boettcher 214/6 C Primary ExaminerRobert J. SparAtt0rneyArthur J. Hansmann [5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for bundling,transporting, and feeding sheets of paper which are preferably in afolded or signature form to be assembled and form a magazine, book, orthe like. The sheets are handled by a delivery device, such as a foldingmachine, and are placed into discrete stacks which are subjected to acompressing device. The stack is formed at an inclined angle and a clampis applied to the compressed stack. The clamp is shown to have rollerswhich permit the clamped stack to be wheeled to a transport device suchas a cart which is shown. The cart with a plurality of the clampedstacks is then moved to a feeding device which receives the clampedstack in an inclined attitude, and the clamp is removed from the sheetsand the sheets are then singly fed into the feeding device which causesthe sheets to be collated into an assembled magazine or book. The clampis shown to be of two extendable and contractable pieces which have aself-locking device for holding the clamp in the contracted positionwhen it is clamping the sheets, and the locking device is releasablewhen the stack is released in the feeding device.

16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 2/ Q l, O

APPARATUS FOR BUNDLING, TRANSPORTING, AND FEEDING SHEETS This inventionrelates to apparatus for bundling,transporting, and feedding sheets suchas printed sheets which are folded in a signature form and are to becollected in forming a magazine, book, or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The printing industry is fully aware of theproblems in handling the sheets when they come off the highspeedprinting presses which are in common use today. The presses deliverprinted sheets onto conveyors or tables or the like and the sheets mustthen be handled and re-arranged or assembled to form the final magazineor book or whatever is the end result. Sheet collecting devices arecommonly used for handling the sheets as they are delivered or depositedfrom the print ing presses, and the problem and concern is to obtainequipment which will adequately handle the sheets at the high speed thatthe press is delivering the sheets. These sheets are commonly deliveredto a folding machine which folds the sheets in the manner in which theyare commonly seen in magazines, books, or the like, and such foldedsheets are the signatures which are assembled to form the completedmagazine or book. One example of a prior art device which receivesprinted sheets and assembles them in a compressed stack is shown in thepresent inventors U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,314 in that it shows a stackformed at an inclined angle and it shows the method and apparatus forcompressing a stack of sheets.

However, after the stack of sheets is compressed, whether or not thesheets were in folded or unfolded form, it is still of concern that thestack of sheets be bundled or bound and then transported to a feedingdevice where the sheets are separated out of the stack and areindividually placed on a conveyor or other apparatus used in assemblingthe individual sheets from various stacks of different sheets and toultimately form the assembled magazine. I-Ieretofore, the compressedstack of sheets would be manually handled, and even manually bound, andthen transported to the feeding device where they were placed in thefeeding device for the collating function described above. One suchexample of a prior art device used for receiving a stack andindividually removing the sheets therefrom is shown in the presentinventors U.S. Pat. No. 3,416,679.

Thus the industry is concerned with the handling of the sheets so thatthe sheets can be rapidly collected at the speed they are being producedby the printing press and the sheets can then be stacked, bundled,transported, and positioned in a feeding device. To accomplish thesegoals is the primary object of this invention, and the present inventiondoes accomplish these goals with a minimum of manuallabor and thus aminimum of human effort and a minimum of time.

Therefore, the present invention provides apparatus for bundling,transporting, and feeding sheets which are first produced by a printingpress and which are to be ultimately handled by a feeding device whichassembles the sheets in a magazine or book form.

In appraising the present invention, it must also be kept in mind thatthe stack of sheets normally produced by stacking equipment isrelatively heavy and the machine attendant should not be expected norrequired to lift the stacks throughout the days work. Further, it issignificant to appreciate that the floor space in any plant is importantspace and must be ulilized to its fullest capacity in order to have theplant function at optimum efficiency. In these contexts, the presentinvention provides the machinery for handling the stacks with only aminimum of human effort required so that no one need be required tofully lift the stacks, and also the equipment requires only a minimum offloor space. For instance, the equipment includes a transportationmeans, which may be a cart, and the transportation means is arranged tohandle a plurality of bundled stacks such that only one trip over theplant floor will transport the plurality of bundled stacks. Further, thetransportation means may even be of an overhead nature and thus not berequired to move across the plant floor at all.

Another important objective of the present invention is to provide anautomated system for receiving, stacking, transporting, and feeding thesheets, as mentioned above, and to have a clamp which can be readily andeasily positioned on and removed from the stack of sheets. The clamp ofthe present invention has a selflocking means thereon such that when thebundle is compressed and the clamp is positioned in tight contact withthe opposite ends of the bundle, the clamp will automatically holditself in that position until a simple maneuver by the attendant willrelease the clamp, and this release function is performed when theclamped bundle is finally positioned in the feeder device. Stillfurther, the clamp of this invention has mobilizing means, such aswheels, which permit the clamp to be used as both a clamping device andas a transportation or mobilizing member since the clamped bundle canactually be wheeled across the floor or from position to position, suchas shown in this disclosure.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view ofthe delivery device and a fragment of the transport device, with bothdevices having clamped stacks of sheets shown thereon.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a feeding device with a clampedstack of sheets shown thereon.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the transport device with aclamped stack of sheets shown thereon.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clamp shown in theprevious three figures.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the: locking portion of the clamp shown inFIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a plate which is shown at oppositeends of the stack of sheets in the first three figures.

FIG. 9 is a release member or tool used in releasing the clamp lockmeans.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of two stacks, some what different.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention relatesto apparatus, and, as such, it will be described in conjunction with thedrawings, and the use of the apparatus will be explained or apparent inthe following description.

Between FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a delivery device which initiallyreceives the sheets in a stream relation and on a conveyor which is inthe form of a belt suitably trained over pulleys or drums, such as thedrum 11 which is rotatably supported on the delivery device frame 12.Thus the belt 10 has the sheets laying thereon, and the belt moves inthe direction of the arrow A and around a pulley 13 and around a pulley14. Thus the sheets are carried to the upper end of the delivery deviceand are stripped from their stream or imbricated relationship and areplaced into an aligned stack, such as the fractional stack 16. Thesheets are therefore stacked in the inclined direction shown on thedelivery device being described, and a lower support plate 17 issuitably connected to the delivery device to slowly continuously movedownwardly and to give support to the lower end of the stack 16 as thestack is being formed by sheets entering the top of stack 16 off thebelt 10 in the nature shown.

When the stack 16 is of a full size, the plate 17 is then at the bottomin the delivery device and, if a plate 17 has been used, then it can beremoved and the pivotal support 18 on the delivery device will receivethe bottom of the stack, such as the showing with respect to the fullstack 19. The support 18 has a pivot point 21 on the delivery device,and it will therefore be understood that the stack 19, when compressedand clamped as hereinafter described, can be tipped to an uprightposition about the pivot point 21 and then moved out of the deliverydevice. A stack compressor 22 is mounted on the delivery device and hasa ram 23 which extends along the plane of the incline of the stack 19and presses downwardly on the stack 19 to press the stack against thepivotal support 18. Of course the stack 19 has been moved sidewise to beoffset relative to the stack 16 so that the compressor 22 can operateadjacent another stack 16 which is being formed while the stack 19 isbeing prepared in the compressing and clamping actions being described.

When the stack 19 is suitably compressed, a bundle clamp generallydesignated 24 is applied to the stack 19 to hold the stack in thecompressed condition. It will of course be understood that the clamp 24can be applied to the bundle 19 by extending over the opposite ends ofthe bundle l9 and without interference from either the support 18 or theram 23, as all of these members can be and are constructed in anysuitable manner to provide for their simultaneous contact with theopposite ends of the stack 19, as indicated in FIG. 1. When the clamp 24is applied to the bundle 19, the compressor 22 is released and theclamped stack can then be moved out of the delivery device and onto atransport device generally designated 26. As mentioned, the movement ofthe clamped stack 19 from its inclined position and to its uprightposition on the transport device 26 is accomplished by simply tippingthe stack upright and about the pivot point 21, so the stack need not befully lifted by the attendant. The delivery device and the compressorarrangement or construction described could be similar to that shown inthe U.S. Pat. No. 2,933,314.

The transport device 26 includes a bed or support plate 27 and fourwheels, such as the wheels 28. Thus the transport device, with aplurality of clamped stacks, can then be moved to a delivery deviceshown in FIG. 2. The delivery device includes a Walk or floor 29 overwhich the clamped stack can be moved and placed onto an inclined support31 when the clamped stack is tipped onto the support 31 as shown. Theclamp 24 is then removed from the stack 19, and the inclined support 31is arranged to have a conveyor belt or the like move upwardly in thedirection of the arrow B and therefore engage and carry the stack 19upwardly in the feeding device. Thus, FIG. 2 shows a stack designated 32which has its clamp 24 removed therefrom and which has moved upwardly inthe feeding device. A support plate 33 is shown at the bottom of thestack 32 for engaging the conveyor support 31 and holding the bottom ofthe stack 32. The feeding device is shown to have a conventional vacuumtype sucker 34 and a conventional type of pivotal arm 36 having a sheetor signature gripper 37. Thus the sucker 34 individually picks thesheets from the top of the stack 32 and holds them for the gripper 37 tograsp the raised sheets and swing them from the stack 32 and onto acollector conveyor 38 moving along underneath the gripper 37, all in amanner which may be as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,416,679. In the feedingdevice, a swinging arm 39 has its lower end provided with a finger 41which can engage the plate 33, if the latter be used in supporting thestack in the feeding device, and the plate 33 is then lifted from thestack and into the raised and dotted position shown in FIG. 2, and, thismay be the plate 33 which was at the top of the stack 32. It will alsobe understood that the arm 39 can be automatically operated insynchronization with the progression of the stack 32 upwardly along theinclined support or on the inclined conveyor 31.

Thus, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the continuous handling and movement of thesheets through and from the delivery device, onto the transport device,to the feeding device and onto the collector conveyor 38. In thisapparatus and method described, the attendant is required only to tipthe heavy stack of sheets, and he will also apply the clamp 34 at thedelivery device, and the clamp is of a self-locking type when it hasbeen applied to the compressed stack 19, and he need then only removethe clamp when the stack moves between the position of the stacks 19 and32 as shown in FIG. 2. Of course the attendant has operated thetransport device 26 for moving a plurality of the clamped stacks fromthe delivery device and to the feeding device.

The transport device 26 is thus shown to be a wagon or cart which hasits bed 27 arranged to stably support the clamped stacks for thetransport function. The transport device could also be in the nature ofan overhead conveyor where the clamped stacks are placed onto a bed 27which may be hoisted off the floor and transported overhead through anoverhead conveyor system and delivered to the feeding device, in aconventional manner of utilizing an overhead conveyor. However, FIG. 3shows that the transport device 26 has its bed 27 arranged to stablysupport the clamped stacks as the lower end of the clamp 24 is receivedbe tween spaced-apart portions 41 on the bed 27. Thus the bottom 42 ofthe clamped stack 19, or even the bottom plate 33, if these plates 33 beemployed, is spaced slightly above the bed surface 43 so that theclamped stack cannot readily tip off the bed 27. Thus the bed 27 isshown to be in the form of a channel having an opening between thedescribed portions 41 for receiving the bottom portion of the clamp 24.Also, a guide or rail 44 can be affixed to the plant floor 46 forguiding the movement of the transport device over the floor and from thedelivery device to the feeding device.

The drawings also show the clamp 24, and FIG. 4 particularly shows theclamp which is generally C- shaped and consists of two L-shaped pieces47 and 48 which are telescoped together for extension and contraction.The pieces 47 and 48 are boxed-shaped or channel-shaped in cross-sectionso that they are telescopically related and are self-aligning relativeto each other, as shown in FIG. 7. The clamp 24 has a selflocking means49 which includes a bracket 51 affixed to the side of the piece 48 andpresenting a wedgeshaped pocket 52. A roller or circular member 53 ispositioned in the wedge pocket 52 and is moveable therein and can engagethe side 54 of the other channel piece 47. Thus, the wedge pocket 52 andthe channel pieces 47 and 48 are arranged so that the clamp legs or ends56 and 57 can be brought toward each other in a clamp contractedposition and they will remain in this contracted position until the lock49 is released. In this manner, it will now be appreciated that it is aneffortless and yet reliable function for the attendant to apply theclamp 24 to the compressed stack 19 in the FIG. 1 position.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show details of the clamp where the two pieces areshown to be telescoped together and secured by the lock means 49 in thefully extended position of the clamp, as determined by two tangs 58,with one on each piece 47 and 48, such that the tangs 58 abut each otherand limit further expansion of the clamp. The bracket 51 is welded orotherwise secured to the bottom side of the outer piece 48, and theroller 53 is guided by the bracket 51 which presents the wedge pocket 52upwardly and toward the bottom side 54 of the clamp piece 56. Thus theroller 53 abuts the piece side 54, and it will be seen and understoodthat if the pieces 47 and 48 were in a more contracted position, thatis, if they were not restricted by the stop or limit tangs 58, theroller 53 would be forced into the small end of the wedge pocket 52 ifthe pieces 47 and 48 were forced into the expanded position or away fromeach other. Thus the roller 53 serves as a locking means and preventsexpansion or extension of the clamp from any set position since theroller 53 is in mutual contact with the bracket 51 and with the clampsurface 54. A back-up spring 59 abuts a side of the bracket 54 and theroller 53 and is guided on a pin 61 on the bracket 51 so that the roller53 is urged toward the narrow side of the wedge pocket 52 and thus isalways in a locking position when it is under the influence of thecompression spring 59. Roller 53 is in opening 60 in piece 48.

The bracket 51 has an opening 62 and a releasing member, such as thetool 63 shown in FIG. 9, can be manipulated and inserted into theopening 62 and against the roller 53 to relieve the roller from, itswedged position against the piece surface 54. Thus the locking means canbe released by the attendant when it is desired to release the clamp,such as when the clamped stack is in the feeding device, as previouslydescribed. FIG. 7 shows that the clamp pieces 47 and 48 are channel orbox shaped pieces which are selfaligning and telescoped together, andthe adjustable functions and the locking function described are thusachieved with the clamp pieces as shown. The clamp 24 is therefore areusable clamp which has self-locking means for holding the clamp in theselected maximum extended position, and the locking means and be readilyreleased for removal of the clamp from the compressed stack, when suchremoval is desired.

The drawings, and particularly FIGS. 3 and 4, shows that the clamp hasfour wheels 64 which are rotatably mounted on the clamp on an axle 66for each pair of wheels 64, such that the four wheels are provided foreach clamp 24. Thus the clamp is mobilized by means of the wheels 64 andthe entire clamped stack can thus be easily wheeled and handled, such asmoving the stack 19 from its tipped or inclined position in FIG. 1 andonto the transport device 26, and also moving the clamped stack from thetransport device 26 and onto the walk 29 in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 then alsoshows that the clamp wheels 64 and axles 66, along with the clampmounting leg 57 are all disposed between the transport means bedportions 41, so the clamp bundle is secure on the bed 27. Also, thedelivery device tilt portion 18 and the feeding device walk 29 aresuitably provided with openings or paths for wheeling the clamped stackalong the piece 18 and along the walk 29 for the mobilizing actiondescribed.

The sheets are commonly folded signatures as they enter the deliverydevice shown in FIG. I, and the folded edge of the signatures is at theside designated 68 in FIG. 1, and this is the side where the clamp isclear of free of the stack so that the stack side 68 is completely openrelative to the clamp 24. Then, when the sheets are placed in thefeeding device, the folded edge is down against the inclined conveyor 31so that the gripper 37 can grasp the folded edge of the signatures, asdesired. Further, the drawings, and particu' larly FIG. 8, show theplate 33 which may be provided at the top and the bottom of the stack19, as seen in FIG. 1. The plate 33 then protects the end signaturesfrom being marred when the compressor is forced onto the stack 19 orwhen the clamp is applied to the stack 19. The plate 33 has two hookopenings 69 which are available for engagement by the lift-arm finger41, as described in connection with FIG. 2.

The invention is thus of a completely automated apparatus for receivingsheets, preferably in a folded form, and stacking, clamping,transporting, and releasing the clamp and feeding the sheets to acollating mechanism. The method steps will be readily apparent to anyoneskilled in the art, and also the claims appended hereto fully define theapparatus, including the clamp, and they also describe the method ofhandling the sheets in the efficient and automated manner which is thegoal of this invention.

FIG. 10 shows an arrangement where there is a slight modification of thetruck bed 27 which is shown to be a bed designated 71 having a centeropening 72 wherein the clamp wheels 64 can be disposed for securelysupporting the clamped stack. Thus it will be understood that the clampwheels 64 can be rolled right into the bed opening 72, and the clampedstack will then be stable relative to the bed 711. The bed 71 alsoincludes a lower portion 73 which has an opening 74 for nesting with theupper clamp leg 56, as shown in FIG. 10 when two clamped stacks arethemselves stacked upon each other, as shown. Thus,-the transport devicecan be the bed 71 which is arranged to securely support the clampedstacks, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, and in the FIG. 10 arrangement, theentire bed 71 can be lifted by an overhead hoist means and the transportdevice is thus provided. Also, as shown in FIG. 10,

the stacks can be placed one on top of the other and they will be instable position relative to the supporting bed 71.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for bundling, transporting, and feeding sheets from adelivery device to a feeding device, comprising a sheet delivery device,a sheet feeding device, sheet stacker means for continuously receivingsheets from said delivery device and stacking said sheets into discretestacks, compressor means for compressing each said stack, ahand-manipulable clamp extending along each said compressed stack forsecuring said sheets compressed in said stack, each said clamp havingtransporting means thereon for facilitating movement of each clampedsaid stack, and a transport device operatively associated with saidclamp transporting means and including a support surface for movement ofsaid clamped stacks therealong and said trans port device furtherincluding mobilizing means for moving said transport device with saidstacks from said delivery device to said sheet feeding device.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp transportingmeans comprises wheels for mobilizing the clamped stack of sheets toprovide for pushing the clamped stack along said support surface.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support surface isa floor plate for receiving a plurality of said clamped stacks wheeledonto said floor plate.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp is C-shapedand extends on the opposite ends of the clamped stack and is free ofextending along one side of the clamped stack, and said delivery deviceincludes an inclined support for supporting said clamped stack on saidinclined support at said one side of the clamped stack.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said clamp includes twoL-shaped pieces telescoped together into an assembly to be C-shaped andextendable and contractable in assembly, and said clamp includes lockmeans for securing said pieces together in selectively limited extendedpositions.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp includesself-operating lock means for releasably holding a stack of sheets inclamped position.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said clamp includes twotelescoping pieces forming an extendable and contractable said clamp,and said lock means is operable on both said pieces for releasablyholding said pieces in selected contracted positions.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp includes twomovable pieces, self-operating lock means operably associated with saidpieces for releasably securing said pieces in selectable positions andhold said stack of sheets in clamped position, and means for releasingsaid self-operating lock means.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pieces are twoL-shaped pieces telescoped together to be C-shaped in assembly and beingextendable and contractable in end-to-end relation, and said lock meansis operably associated with said pieces for securing said piecestogether in selectively limited extended positions.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said transporting meanscomprises wheels attached to said clamp for mobilizing said clamp withsaid stack on said support surface.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said self-operatinglock means includes a spring-loaded member movably supported on one ofsaid pieces and movable into contact with the other of said pieces forsecuring said pieces in selected positions, said one of said pieceshaving a wedge-shaped pocket receiving said spring-loaded member, and arelease member for moving said spring-loaded member in said wedgeshapedpocket to release said pieces from their secured together position inthe releasing of said clamp from the stack.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said spring-loadedmember is a roller and wherein said release member is a tool forcontacting said roller and moving it toward the larger end of saidwedge-shaped pocket.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pieces arebox-shaped in cross-section and are telescoped together along said boxshapes, and said selfoperating lock means including a roller springbiased on one of said pieces and being in contact with a side of theother of said pieces for securing said pieces in selected positions.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transporting meanscomprises wheels attached to one end of one of said pieces formobilizing said clamp with said stack on said support surface.

15. Apparatus including the clamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein saidtransport device includes a bed with an opening for receiving a part ofsaid clamp and has spaced-apart portions for laterally supporting theclamped stack.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said delivery deviceincludes a support operatively associated with said transport device forsupporting the clamped stack in the movement of the latter from saiddelivery device and to said transport device.

1. Apparatus for bundling, transporting, and feeding sheets from adelivery device to a feeding device, comprising a sheet delivery device,a sheet feeding device, sheet stacker means for continuously receivingsheets from said delivery device and stacking said sheets into discretestacks, compressor means for compressing each said stack, ahand-manipulable clamp extending along each said compressed stack forsecuring said sheets compressed in said stack, each said clamp havingtransporting means thereon for facilitating movement of each clampedsaid stack, and a transport device operatively associated with saidclamp transporting means and including a support surface for movement ofsaid clamped stacks therealong and said transport device furtherincluding mobilizing means for moving said transport device with saidstacks from said delivery device to said sheet feeding device.
 2. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp transporting meanscomprises wheels for mobilizing the clamped stack of sheets to providefor pushing the clamped stack along said support surface.
 3. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said support surface is a floorplate for receiving a plurality of said clamped stacks wheeled onto saidfloor plate.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clampis C-shaped and extends on the opposite ends of the clamped stack and isfree of extending along one side of the clamped stack, and said deliverydevice includes an inclined support for supporting said clamped stack onsaid inclined suppoRt at said one side of the clamped stack.
 5. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said clamp includes twoL-shaped pieces telescoped together into an assembly to be C-shaped andextendable and contractable in assembly, and said clamp includes lockmeans for securing said pieces together in selectively limited extendedpositions.
 6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clampincludes self-operating lock means for releasably holding a stack ofsheets in clamped position.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6,wherein said clamp includes two telescoping pieces forming an extendableand contractable said clamp, and said lock means is operable on bothsaid pieces for releasably holding said pieces in selected contractedpositions.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clampincludes two movable pieces, self-operating lock means operablyassociated with said pieces for releasably securing said pieces inselectable positions and hold said stack of sheets in clamped position,and means for releasing said self-operating lock means.
 9. The apparatusas claimed in claim 8, wherein said pieces are two L-shaped piecestelescoped together to be C-shaped in assembly and being extendable andcontractable in end-to-end relation, and said lock means is operablyassociated with said pieces for securing said pieces together inselectively limited extended positions.
 10. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 8, wherein said transporting means comprises wheels attached tosaid clamp for mobilizing said clamp with said stack on said supportsurface.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein saidself-operating lock means includes a spring-loaded member movablysupported on one of said pieces and movable into contact with the otherof said pieces for securing said pieces in selected positions, said oneof said pieces having a wedge-shaped pocket receiving said spring-loadedmember, and a release member for moving said spring-loaded member insaid wedge-shaped pocket to release said pieces from their securedtogether position in the releasing of said clamp from the stack.
 12. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said spring-loaded member is aroller and wherein said release member is a tool for contacting saidroller and moving it toward the larger end of said wedge-shaped pocket.13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pieces arebox-shaped in cross-section and are telescoped together along said boxshapes, and said self-operating lock means including a roller springbiased on one of said pieces and being in contact with a side of theother of said pieces for securing said pieces in selected positions. 14.The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said transporting meanscomprises wheels attached to one end of one of said pieces formobilizing said clamp with said stack on said support surface. 15.Apparatus including the clamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein saidtransport device includes a bed with an opening for receiving a part ofsaid clamp and has spaced-apart portions for laterally supporting theclamped stack.
 16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saiddelivery device includes a support operatively associated with saidtransport device for supporting the clamped stack in the movement of thelatter from said delivery device and to said transport device.